Apparatus for preparing trim panels



Aug. 2, 1938. c. w. AVERY 2,125,430

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING' TRIM PANELS Filed Jan. 14, 1937 l 4 af gli if? o 25 A f (S7/drance 14./ HI/effcg,

Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Clarence W. Avery, Detroit, Mich., assignmto T-hc Murray Corporation ot America, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application january 14, 1937, Serin No. 120,514

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved form of apparatus primarily designed for utilization in connection with the preparation of padded inner trim panels for automotive vehicles.

Inner trim panels as now commercially utilized for the purpose of covering portions of the intcrior of automotive vehicle bodies, generally comprise a relatively heavy or stiff backing sheet formed of card-board or other suitable similar material, to which is adhesively secured a layer of padding material, such for example, as loosely felted non-Woven jute fibers, to provide a relatively soft surface. Over this padded backing sheet is stretched a section of woven fabric flnish material to provide an attractive finish surface for the trim panel as awhole. In order to secure the padding material in position and also to improve the ornamental appearance of the surface of the completed trim panel it is desirable to cut through the padding material along predetermined lines or in predetermined areas or zones and secure the fabric nish material directly to the backing sheet along these lines or in these zones, thus creating an embossed eiect upon the surface of the completed trim panel and at the same time providing additional zones of securement for the fabric iinish material. Such constructions have been found particularly advantageous, particularly in connection with trim panels where the padding material used is of a relatively soft nature because the fabric finish material serves to support and confine the padding material in relatively localized areas, thus insuring that this padding material will be properly retained in place at all times.

The apparatus of the present invention is primarily designed for the purpose of simply and conveniently forming the recesses or zones in the padding material after the same has been secured to the card-board backing sheet in order to provide areas or lines for securing the fabric finish material directly to the backing sheet of the paneh It is an object of the present invention to prov vide a die which serves to cut through the padding material after the same has been secured to the backing sheet and to provide in combination with such die means for removing portions of the padding material from.' the backing sheet to which it has been adhesively secured without disturbing the remaining portions of the padding on the backing sheet.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved die structure of this general character, which includes in combination with the cutting means, means for removing the padding material and automatic means for ejecting the removed padding material from the die at the completion of the cutting operation.

Still further, the present invention contemplates the provision of pneumatic means which serve to supply suction between the cutting blades of the improved die in order that this suction will positively remove the padding material cut from the trim panel and after removal air pressure may be substituted for the suction in aiding to eject the removed padding material.

Many other and further objects, advantages and features of the present invention will-become clearly apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a blanking press having one form of the improved die embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the control valve shown on the left hand side of Fig. 1 illustrating in detail the internal construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, taken. substa. ially on the line 3-3 oi' Fig. 1, of one form the improved die of the present invention illustrating in detail the disposition of the cutting knives and the suction ports.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, illustrating in detail the cross sectional configuration of the improved die and a trim panel upon which it is adapted to operate.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the manner in which the improved die of the present invention has cut through the padding material at the completion of the downward stroke of the press in order to cut through the padding material.

Fig. 6 is' a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Figs. 4 and 5, illustrating in detail the position of the parts during the upward stroke after the completion of the blanking operation illustrating the manner in which the padding material is removed from the padded backing. sheet.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a. completely finished inner trim panel manufacured by the apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on 'the line 8 8 of Fig. '7, illustrating in detail the cross sectional conguratlon of the completed inner trim panel.

With more particular reference to the specific embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawing it will be readily appreciated that the general principles and generic spirit of the inventive concept presented in this application are susceptible of practicable application in many and various installations and that the specific construction disclosed in the drawing is merely illustrative of one embodiment ofthe invention curely mounted in position upon the ram of.

the press is a die of composite construction which includes a backing plate |2 which serves to support a ply-wood die member I3 which is preferably faced with a thin sheet metal plate |41. This die member I3 and plateA I4 are recessed in the face thereof to provide a channel I5 which in the specific construction disclosed in the drawing is substantially rectangular in form. Adjacent each of the opposite walls of the channel I5 are mounted blades I6'which have their rear sides abutting against the backing plate I2 and their cutting edges lying in spaced parallel relation and projecting a substantial distance from the surface of the plate I4. 'Ihese blades may be firmly locked in position by means of a strip I1 of metal, ber or suitable similar material which serves to securely wedge the blades I6 against the wall of the channel I5 in which they are mounted. 'I'he exposed surface of the strip I 'I may lie in a plane slightly spaced from the plane of the sheet metal plate I4 in order that the pad-'- ding material cut will be slightly compacted during the cutting operation as is hereinafter brought out in greater detail.

'Ihe backing plate I2 is drilled to provide ducts or passage ways 2|) with which communicate a plurality of bores 2|, which bores open through the surface of the backing plate I2 in substantially the central portion of the base of the channel I5. 'Ihe strip I1 is provided with a plurality of bores 22 through which each register with one of the bores 2|. 'I'he bores 20 in the backing plate all communicate with a single opening to which is secured a pipe or conduit 25 which serves to establish communication between this network of ducts and a valve 26. The valve 26 may be of the conventional two-way construction, having a pipe 21 connected through to form a suitable source of suction or low pressure and a second pipe 28 which may be connected with a supply of compressed air or other suitable source of h igh pressure.

The valve includes a rotary central portion 30 which is controlled by a lever 3| and it will be seen from Fig. 2 that as lever 3| is swung to various positions both the source of compressed air and suction may be completely shut off or either one -or the other may be selectively placed in communication with the ducts in the die member with which the valve is associated.

A bracket 35 is preferably rigidly secured to the side of the bed I0 of the press and this bracket provides a shoulder 36 and a shoulder 31, each of which are adapted to engage the lever 3| serving to control the valve, consequently shifting the lever 3| to various positions in accordance with movements of the press. The trim panel to be operated upon in the form illustrated includes a relatively hard still backing sheet 40 to which a relatively soft and thickY layer of padding 4| is adhesively secured by means of a layer of adhesive 42. The padding material as described above is preferably composed oi loosely felted non-woven jute fibers, cut linters, or other suitable fibrous material whichhas been somewhat compacted to provide a unitary matted layer of padding.

'I'he blanking operation is performed by the moving die structure which is preferably. preformed prior to the time the adhesive which serves to secure the padding material tothe backing sheet has had a complete opportunity to set. The advantages of this will be more easily materialbut do not materially cut the back-.-

ing sheet 40 upon which this paddingmaterial is secured. The position and arrangement o f the parts at the completion of the cutting stroke is clearly seen in Fig. 5 of the drawing. Y

It will be noted that due to the fact that adhesive layer 42 is still somewhat damp during the cutting operation the ends of the cut fibers will be urged downwardly by means of the knives I6 and will to some extent be bonded to the-adjacent bers and to the backing sheet by means of the adhesive material which, as has been explained above, has not completely set. During the cutting stroke of the press the shoulder 36 will engage the valve lever3| shifting the valve to a position such that the source of suction-will be in communication with the ducts in the valve body and consequently will cause the ow of air upwardly through the ducts 22. The bed of the press' I0 is then caused to move downwardly and the suction set up in the ducts 22 will serve to pick up the portion of the padding material disposed between the knives I6 which padding ma# terial has been cut fromthe remainder of the padding during the cutting operation. Due to the fact that the surface of thestrip I1 extends somewhat above the surface of the die member I3 it will be seen that the padding material located between the cutting knives will be compacted to some substantial extent during the cutting operation, consequently facilitating the removal thereof.

The trim panel with the portions cut therefrom is removed during the downward move? view Fig. 2, thus establishing communication between the source of compressed air and the ports 22. This blast of compressed air will serve to eject the waste padding material from between the cutting'blades on to the bedv of the press from whence it may be removed upon the insertion of a second` padded backing sheet for a subsequent cycle of operation.

While the remaining steps required to complete the formation of the inner trim panel form no part of the present invention it will be readily understood that the prepared backing sheet may be covered with a suitable decorative section of fabric trim material 45 which may be stretched tightly over the surface of the padded backing sheet and have its marginal edges adhesively secured to the reverse side thereof. Prior to the application of the fabric nish ma.- terial to the padded backing sheet adhesive material may be sprayed into the zones of the backing sheet from which the padding material has been removed and the fabric covered backing sheet may then be subjected to the action of the die which serves to urge the fabric finish material into the bases of the grooves or channels formed in the padding material. This operation serves to tension the fabric nish material and conform the same to the configuration of the padding material, thus producing an extremely attractive nished article.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that the above described embodiment of the invention is merely illustrative of the generic and inventive concept presented in this application, that the particular arrangement and disposition of the cutting knives may be varied in accordance with the particular pattern it is desired to produce upon the completed article. Many other and further modifications of the invention, falling within the scope thereof as dened in the subjoined claims, will become clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for preparing padded inner trim panels, including in combination a die member, spaced cutting knives projecting from the surface of said die member, ducts opening between said cutting knives, means for establishing communication between said ducts and a source of suction, and means for selectively establishing communication between said ducts and a source I the same in predetermined position with respect to each other, ports in said ller strip, means for establishing communication between said ports and a source of suction, and means for selectively establishing communication between said ducts and a source of suction or high pressure.

4. A die press for preparing inner trim panels including in combination a bed and a ram, a die member carried by said ram, said die member including spaced cutting knives adapted to sever isolated sections of padding from a padded backing sheet, ports in said die member disposed between said knives, a conduit for supplying suction to said ports and means responsive to the movement of said ram relative to the bed of said press for controlling communication between said ports and said source of suction.

5. A die press for preparing inner trim panels including in combination a bed and a ram, a die member carried by saidra.m, said die member including spaced cutting knives adapted to sever isolated sections of padding from a padded backing sheet, ports in said die member disposed between said knives. a conduit for supplying iluid pressure to said ports and means responsive to relative movement between said ram and bed for controlling the supply of such iiuid pressure to said ports.

6. A die member for preparing padded inner trim panels, including a pair of cutting knives adapted to cut through the padding of an inner trim panel, ports in said die member opening between said knives and means for selectively applying either suction or fluid pressure to said ports to act upon the padding material severed by said knives.

7. A die member for operating upon padded backing sheets including cutting knives arranged to sever portions of the padding from the remainder of the padding on such backing sheet, suction means associated with said die member for stripping the severed portions of padding from said backing sheet, and uid pressure means serving to eject the padding material thus stripped from between said knives. t

8. Apparatus for preparing inner trim panels including in combination a die member, spaced cutting knives projected from the surface of said die member, ducts in said die member opening into the space between said cutting knives, a source of fluid pressure and a source of suction adapted for communication with said ducts and a valve for selectively supplying either suction or pressure to said ducts.

CLARENCE W. AVERY. 

